Longtime public servant passed away Friday at age 64

PORT CLINTON - While Linda Hartlaub will be remembered for the positive impact her decades of civil service had throughout all of Port Clinton, one room among those feeling that loss the most will now honor her memory forever.

Hartlaub, 64, of Port Clinton, died Friday. According to her obituary, she passed away surrounded by her family and lifelong friends.

Hartlaub served on Port Clinton City Council and as its council president for 20 years, from 1995 to 2015.

On Tuesday, city council unanimously passed a resolution celebrating that dedicated public service of hers and honorarily naming the council’s chambers “The Linda Hartlaub City Council Chambers.”

The resolution also appropriates $1,000 from the city’s general fund for the purpose of procuring and installing an honorary plaque and portrait commemorating her service to be placed in the council chambers.

Former Port Clinton Mayor Vince Leone listens to Linda Hartlaub, council president at the time, during their final city council meeting in December 2015.(Photo: File)

For several current city council members, Hartlaub was not only a friend and a guide, but she was the reason they themselves ran for office.

“She inspired me to run for city council and encouraged me through the whole process,” said councilwoman Roseann Hickman. “I don’t think you’ll ever find another person more giving of herself than she was.”

A long career

Hartlaub worked as the director of Ruth Ann’s House in Port Clinton, a social services transitional housing organization. Prior to that, she worked as a coordinator for WSOS (recently renamed the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership) in Ottawa County and with the bookmobile from the Ida Rupp Public Library.

Even as recently as this past year, members of city council could still count on her to answer any questions she might be able to help them with.

When Margaret Phillips first joined council to fill a vacant seat, Hartlaub helped her make the transition.

“Starting from the first time on, Linda sat down with me and explained how this all works,” Phillips said. “It’s not as a easy as a person would think.”

“Linda helped me a lot, just like everybody else,” said councilman Gabe Below, who wrote the resolution celebrating Hartlaub and naming the chambers in her honor.

During Hartlaub’s tenure on council, she was described as a strong advocate for and instrumental in the Lakefront Preserve, the revitalization of the West End and the West End Park, the Conestoga Project and many other valuable initiatives.

“She was a resource that cannot be replaced,” said Beth Gillman, councilwoman for Port Clinton’s First Ward. “Her impact on the city — especially my ward in particular, because she cared so much about my ward and the people in it — will not be forgotten.”